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May 15, 2026 COUNTY NEWS Public Defenders Sue Spokane County Over Work
May 15, 2026
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COUNTY NEWS
Public Defenders Sue Spokane County Over Work Standards
Attorneys hired by Spokane County to represent those who can’t afford lawyers have sued their handlers over a set of standards that public defenders believe violates the state constitution
and could put the commissioners in jeopardy of future lawsuits. The suit against Spokane County was filed May 1 in Pend Oreille County by Colin Charbonneau, director of the Spokane
County Public Defender’s office, and Victoria Blumhorst, director of the Counsel for Defense, whose attorneys are paid by the county to do the same public defense work but are needed
whenever a conflict of interest prevents other public defenders from handling the cases.
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COUNTY NEWS
Three People From King County Potentially Exposed to Hantavirus
Three people in King County are being monitored after they were potentially exposed to the Andes type of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship.
According to Public Health – Seattle & King County, two of the people were sitting on an airplane near an ill cruise ship passenger who was removed from the aircraft before takeoff.
That person later tested positive. Both residents have returned to King County. Health officials say they are at home monitoring for symptoms but are currently asymptomatic.
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PARTNER NEWS
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WSAC Celebrates New High-Tier Corporate Member: Maximus!
It is with great enthusiasm that we share our newly formed partnership with Maximus Inc. For over five decades, Maximus has delivered critical services and solutions that empower governments
to better serve their communities with speed, security, and transparency.
Maximus joins WSAC as a high-tier Platinum Partner and will work to support county and departmental operations through various services and AI-driven innovation.
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COUNTY NEWS
Mason County is One of Fastest Growing Micro Areas in the Country, New Census Data Shows
Mason County is growing—and it's growing fast. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Shelton and Mason County is one of the fastest-growing micro areas in the entire country.
The area saw numeric growth of more than 1,400 from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, according to census data.
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COUNTY NEWS
Over 23K Cross this Pierce County Bridge Daily. ‘It Needs to Be Replaced.’
Purdy Bridge, the nearly 90-year-old bridge that serves as the main entryway to the Key Peninsula, sees over 23,000 daily crossings, according to one estimate in a report from the American
Road & Transportation Builders Association. State lawmakers and transportation officials say they’re aware of the concerns about the aging bridge and the toll that growth has placed
on roads in Purdy and Wauna, but that other projects need attention first.
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COUNTY NEWS
Keeping up With Growth: Residents Say Planning, Funding of Infrastructure Falling Behind
Clark County's rapid growth over the past few decades has meant more traffic on the roads, more homes and apartments in neighborhoods, and more demand for water, sewer and electric utilities.
Some residents question whether local governments are doing all they should to ensure infrastructure is keeping pace with that growth.
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NACo NEWS
Counties Eye Potential Medicaid Reimbursement Remedies
The IMD exclusion, written into law in 1965, prohibits federal Medicaid funds from being used to reimburse care in mental health or substance use disorder treatment facilities with more
than 16 beds. The rule was created during the deinstitutionalization movement to shift responsibility for large psychiatric hospitals away from the federal government and toward states
and local governments. The regulations governing it have not been revised since 1988.
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COUNTY NEWS
Olympia, Regional Partners Collaborating on Response to 'The Jungle' Encampment
A regional encampment transition planning team includes representatives from Olympia, Lacey, Thurston County, Interfaith Works, Family Support Center, Olympic Health & Recovery Services
and Intercity Transit.
The planning team is developing a phased approach to reduce the population at the encampment with the goal of safely and compassionately shutting it down at some point. No final closure
timeline has been set yet, but the transition is expected to happen in phases over time.
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COUNTY NEWS
Clallam County Joining Lawsuit Over New Timber Buffer Rules
Clallam County Board of Commissioners is considering joining a legal challenge over new state riparian buffer rules that timber industry representatives say could reduce harvestable
acreage and impact local revenue.
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COUNTY NEWS
Former County Commissioner, Don Dashiell, Passes Away
Donald “Don” Larry Dashiell served as a Stevens County Commissioner for 9 years. Known for his frugality, he would drive to Olympia for meetings and sleep in his car to save taxpayer
dollars. Don was a dedicated public servant who loved his community, and he will be dearly missed.
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<https://unlayer-hqpnbzmtervc8.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/%2F1705611441075-425944.png> Upcoming Events
TUE
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MAY 19 @ 10:00AM
Code Enforcement Strategies for Effective Nuisance Abatement <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/9e913270-3ce3-42d2-a69b-94615f4604e4/11>
Webinar | $50
WED
27
May 27 – 29
2026 Biennial Forum: Northwest Community Forest Coalition <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/9e913270-3ce3-42d2-a69b-94615f4604e4/12>
Bellingham | $200
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NEW WSAC MEMBER?
Sign into The Hub for county resources & more ways to connect!
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<https://wsac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WSAC_Legislative_Icons_2021-Social.png> LATEST Job Openings
CLARK COUNTY
Probation Services Case Manager – District Court <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/9e913270-3ce3-42d2-a69b-94615f4604e4/15>
$33.26 – $44.90/Hr
THURSTON COUNTY
Senior Maintenance Technician <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/9e913270-3ce3-42d2-a69b-94615f4604e4/16>
$5,526 – $6,847/Mo
VIEW ALL COUNTY JOBS <https://flight.us.toucantech.online/track/click/9e913270-3ce3-42d2-a69b-94615f4604e4/17>
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Moving People, Technology, and Government Forward
At Maximus, we elevate government performance—transforming complexity into clarity and inefficiency into measurable impact. For over five decades, we've delivered critical services and
solutions that empower governments to better serve their communities with speed, security, and transparency.
We integrate next-generation technology and AI-driven innovation with unmatched operational discipline. Our approach moves government forward by automating millions of citizen interactions,
securing vital digital infrastructures, and accelerating public program effectiveness.
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